Sardar Azmoun has decided to retire from international football after the 23-year-old claimed that abuse he has received has contributed to his mother's ill health.
The Rubin Kazan forward took to Instagram to explain his decision:
It was a great honour for me to play in my national team, and I will be proud of myself till the end of my life.
Unfortunately, with all the interest I have, and contrary to my heart’s desire, I decided to say goodbye to the national team of my country.It’s definitely the most painful decision for a young 23-year-old who has come here with a lot of hardship and misery.
My mother had overcome a serious illness and I was happy. Unfortunately because of the unkindness of some people, and the insults that me and my team-mates in no way deserved, her illness has become severe.
This has put me in a difficult position where I must pick one or the other — and as a result I pick my mother.
Iran came painfully close to the round of 16, drawing with Portugal 1-1 in their final group game. But it could've been so much different for Carlos Queiroz's men had Medhi Taremi managed to steer his stoppage time shot goal bound.
Another forward, the 30-year-old Reza Ghoochannejhad, has also stated his intentions to leave the Iran team, but his decision is probably more due to the fact that the player was an unused substitute in all three games. Ghoochannejhad also took to Instagram to announce his decision:
My mind, my personality and my pride do not allow me to wear the Iranian national team shirt again.
